Floribunda rose plant named ‘MORabundant’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of rose plant of the floribunda class, of hardy, sturdy, bushy, much branched habit substantially as illustrated and described, characterized by buds and flowers, basically pink, the bud being pointed in the early stage, opening from light pink center to medium pink on outer petals, with the open flower being double and rounded with 40 or more petals; and further characterized by a plant of compact, vigorous, upright shape with main stems and shoots of less than average thorniness, the said plant being easy to propagate from soft-wood cuttings with an abundance of medium, semi-glossy foliage, the flowers being usually borne in medium clusters on medium length stems.

Classification: The present invention relates to a new Rosa Floribundaplant (Rosa spp.).

Variety denomination: The new plant has the varietal denomination‘MORabundant’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This new and distinct cultivar of floribunda rose was originated byRalph Moore, located at Visalia, Calif., as a result of a cross between‘MORdora’ (‘Sequoia Ruby’, miniature rose climber) as the seed parentand “seedling” (‘Golden Gardens’×‘Strawberry Ice’) as the pollen parent.The following description is of 3 to 4 year-old rose plants of the newvariety grown outdoors in Visalia, Calif. in the month of April, 2009.Phenotypic expression may vary with environmental, cultural and climaticconditions, as well as differences in conditions of light and soil.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of hardy,bush type rose plant of the floribunda class. The cultivar is primarilycharacterized as to novelty by its pink color and double flowers. Thecultivar is further characterized by: an abundance of bloom, withflowers usually borne in clusters (sometimes singly) to a stem; slightfragrance; a plant of vigorous, rounded to compact, bushy growth shape,with semi-glossy foliage with elliptical leaflets; the buds and flowersopen from light pink from center to medium pink outside tip petals andmedium pink on reverse side of petal blooms; a plant which grows andblooms satisfactorily both in greenhouse and outdoors; with repeatbloom, is good for growing in pots, and provides excellent gardendecoration as well as cut flowers.

The new cultivar has been successfully asexually reproduced in Visalia,Calif. by budding as well as by cuttings; the reproductions have runtrue in all respects. The photograph illustrates the cultivar includingthe foliage, buds and flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Plant part coloration illustrated is as true as reasonably possible toattain in photographic illustrations of this type. The accompanyingphotographs illustrate specimens of the new variety and show theflowering thereof from bud to full bloom.

FIG. 1. shows open flower with buds and foliage.

FIG. 2. shows open flower and foliage.

FIG. 3. shows canes and foliage.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

Referring now specifically to the new and distinct cultivar offloribunda rose plant, the following is a detailed description thereofin outline; all major color plate identifications being by reference toThe R. H. S. Colour Chart (Royal Horticultural Society) except wherecommon terms of color definition are employed.

Flower

The new variety usually bears its flowers in clusters, but also bearssingly. Flowers are borne on strong medium stems (about 2.3 to about 27cm). Outdoors, the plant blooms abundantly and nearly continuouslyduring the growing season. The flowers have a slight old rose fragrance.

Bud

The peduncle is about 5.0 to about 9.0 cm. in length, of average toheavy caliper (about 0.02 to about 0.05 cm. in diameter) and usuallyerect and somewhat stiff. It is entirely smooth, without stipitateglands, hairs, or prickles. Peduncle color is between 146B and 146Csometimes very lightly suffused, especially on the side exposed to thesun, with near 182A.

Before the calyx breaks, the bud is about 1.2 to about 1.5 cm. Indiameter at the widest point, about 2.9 to about 3.4 cm. in length, andglobular to somewhat ovoid in shape. The surface of the bud bears somefoliaceous appendages, usually with stout somewhat cut foliaceous partsextending beyond the tip of the bud about 0.05 cm or more of its length.Bud color Is between 146B and 146C.

The sepals are about 2.8 to about 3.1 cm. in length and about 1.1 toabout 1.2 cm. in width at the widest point. The outer surface color ofthe sepal is between 146B and 146C. The inner surface color the sepal isbetween 147C and 146B and covered with fine wooly tomemtum; sepalmargins are lined with many stipitate glands and hairs.

As the petals open (after the calyx breaks), the bud is about 2.0 toabout 3.0 cm. in diameter at the widest point, about 2.5 to about 3.2cm. in length, and very globular in form. The color of the undersurfaces of the newly opened petals is between 54A and 55C sometimeswith pigmentation as dark as between 59C mostly toward the edge of thepetal. At the point where the petal attaches, there is a moderatelysmall zone between 4B and 2C. The color of the upper surfaces of thenewly opened petals is between 56B and 56A. At the point where the petalattaches, there is a moderately small zone between 4B and 2C.

Bloom

When fully open, the bloom ranges from about 8.5 to about 9.5 cm. indiameter.

Petalage is very double with about 40 to 45 petals and about 3 to 5petaloids irregularly arranged.

When partially open, the bloom form is high centered to somewhatglobular, and the petals are moderately tightly spiraled to slightlycupped with petal edges moderately reflexed outward.

When fully open, the bloom form is more cupped, and the petals areloosely cupped with petal edges moderately reflexed outward.

Petals:

The substance of the petals is of medium thickness, with upper surfacessatiny and shiny and under surfaces is satiny and shiny.

The outer petals are broadly obovate to round in shape with roundedapices and sometimes notched with one notch.

The inner petals are nearly round to moderately obovate in shape withrounded apices and sometimes notched with one notch.

The petals are about 3.5 to about 4.0 cm. in length and about 3.0 toabout 4.5 cm. in width at the widest point.

Petal margins are entire to sometimes moderately sinuate especially onthe outermost petals edges.

Newly Opened Flowers

The under surface color of the outer petals in between 56B and 56A. Atthe point where the petal attaches, there is a moderately small zone ofbetween 2C and 2B.

The upper surface color of the outer petals is irregularly shaded withas light as between 56A and 56B.

At the point where the petal attaches, there is a moderately small zoneof between 2D and 2C.

The under surface color the intermediate and inner petals is between 56Dand 56C.

The upper surface color of the intermediate and inner petals in between56C and 56A.

The general tonality of the newly open flower is between 56D and 56A.

Three-Day Old Flower

The under surface color of the outer petals is between 56B and 56A. Atthe point where the petal attaches, there is a moderately small zone ofbetween 2C and 2B.

The upper surface color of the outer petals is irregularly shaded withas light as between 56A and 56C to as dark as between 54C and 54B. Atthe point where the petal attaches, there is a moderately small zone ofbetween 2D and 2C.

The under surface color of the intermediate and inner petals is between56D and 56C.

The upper surface color of the intermediate and inner petals isirregularly shaded with as light as between 56D and 56C to as dark asbetween 56C and 56B.

The general tonality of the three-day-old flower is irregularly shadedwith as light as between 56C and 56D to as dark as between 56A and 56B.

On the spent bloom, the petals usually drop off cleanly.

In April in Visalia, Calif., blooms on the bush growing outdoorsgenerally lasts about five to 7 days. Cut roses from plants grownoutdoors and kept at normal indoor living temperatures generally lastabout 5 to 7 days.

Male Reproductive Organs

Stamens are many in number (average about 108) and are arrangedregularly about the pistils; some are mixed with petaloids. Thefilaments are of short to medium length (about 0.05 to about 0.07 cm.),most with anthers. Filaments are between 2B and 5A at the base. Theanthers are average for the class and all open approximately at the sametime. Anther color is between 22A and 16A when immature and between 164Band 166A at maturity. Pollen is moderate.

Female Reproductive Organs

Pistils vary in number (average about 95). The styles are moderatelyeven, average in length (about 0.4 to about 0.7 cm.), somewhat thin incaliper, and moderately separated to somewhat columnar. Stigma color isbetween 10C and 8C. Style color is near 4D. Ovaries are usually allenclosed in the calyx.

Foliage

The compound leaves are usually comprised of three to five or moreleaflets and are borne abundantly. The five-leaflet leaves are about13.5 to about 14.7 cm. in length and about 11.5 cm. in width at thewidest point, moderately leathery to somewhat crisp in texture, andsemi-glossy in finish. The terminal leaflets are about 5.7 to about 6.0cm. in length and about 4.1 to about 4.6 cm. in width at the widestpoint, shaped oval to somewhat ovate with acute apices and moderatelyround to somewhat acute bases. Their margins are simply serrate.

The upper surface color of the mature leaf is between 137B and 137A. Theunder surface color of the mature leaf is between 138B and 139C. Theupper surface color of the young leaf is between 137C and 138A. Theunder surface color of the young leaf is between 138B and 139C.

The rachis is average to somewhat medium in caliper and somewhat smooth.The upper side is moderately grooved with few hairs and stipitate glandson the edges of the grooves. The under side of the rachis is somewhatsmooth with a very few stipitate glands and small prickles. The rachiscolor is between 146D and 146B.

The stipules are about 1.3 to about 1.5 cm. in length and of mediumwidth (about 0.5 to about 1.0 cm.) with somewhat long straight pointsthat usually turn out at an angle of more than 45 degrees and sometimesslightly recurve toward the stem. The stipules color is between 146D and146B.

The petiole is about 4.0 to about 8.5 cm. in length and about 0.2 toabout 0.3 cm. in diameter at the widest point. The petiole color isbetween 146D and 146B.

The plant displays an average degree of resistance to powdery mildew andrust as compared to other commercial varieties grown under comparableconditions in Visalia, Calif.

Growth

The plant has a compact medium height growing habit (about 85 to about90 cm. in height and about 80 to about 90 cm. spread at the widestpoint), with full branching. It displays vigorous growth and the canesare of medium size caliper for the class.

The color of the major stems is between 146B and 146C. They bear somemedium prickles that are about 0.05 to about 0.08 cm. in length. Thelarge prickles are almost straight and angled slightly downward with ashort length broad rounded base; prickle color is between 164A and 164C.The major stem bears some small prickles of similar shape andcoloration.

The color of the branches is between 146B and 146C. They usually bear nolarge or small prickles. Sometimes they bear few large prickles whichare of similar size and shape to the large prickles on the major stems;prickle color is between 187B and 183C.

The color of the new shoots is between 144A and 143C sometimes lightlysuffused with between 182A and 182B. They bear no large or smallprickles.

1. A new and distinct Floribunda rose plant, substantially asillustrated and described herein.